- Nigeria's federal government has been commended by Amnesty International for the directive on overhauling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)
- AI urged that the reform which was ordered by the FG must translate into ending the torture, unlawful detention, extortion among others
- It said that there is much compelling public evidence of human rights violations committed by SARS
Amnesty International (AI) has commended the federal government for overhauling the country’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit.
Director of Amnesty International Nigeria Osai Ojigho who commended the FG in a statement made available to NAIJ.com described the news a as a positive one.
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The human rights organisations however urged that the reform must translate into ending the torture, unlawful detention, extortion, extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations that SARS officers have been committing for years
“This is an overdue yet hugely important move by Acting President Osinbajo. The growing outcry over the brutality of Nigeria’s notorious SARS police unit has finally got the attention of the country’s authorities.
“While this is positive news, it is crucial that any overhaul of SARS is far-reaching and immediately effective. Restructuring SARS is not enough unless the government takes concrete steps to protect Nigerians.
“The reform ordered by the Acting president must translate into ending the torture, unlawful detention, extortion, extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations that SARS officers have been committing for years across Nigeria. That includes bringing to justice SARS officers found to have committed atrocities.
“There is much compelling public evidence of human rights violations committed by SARS, some of it directly documented by Amnesty International, and this should now be used to aid an effective investigation into the unit’s crimes.
“The special panel convened to investigate SARS must be independent and impartial. Its aims can only be achieved if victims are given time and protection to present their cases,” AI said in the statement.
NAIJ.com had reported that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to immediately overhaul the management and activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
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NAIJ.com reported that the personal assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on new media, Bashir Ahmad, made it known in a tweet on Tuesday, August 14.
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Source: Naija.ng